Boise State Football: Game-by-Game Predictions for 2013

Boise State begins another college football season ranked in the Top 25. Currently, the Broncos are No. 19 in both the AP Top 25 and the USA Today coaches poll.

This season is the last season of the BCS, and head coach Chris Petersen and his team are poised for another run at a BCS bowl game.

It is more than appropriate that the official Boise State school mascot is named "Buster." After all, the Broncos, while not the only "BCS Buster," are certainly the most famous—or infamous for that matter.

Boise State will once again begin its quest to break the BCS. However, to do it they will have to navigate a deceptively tough schedule filled with challenging road games.

Let's look at every game on the 2013 schedule for Boise State and try to figure out if the Broncos have a legitimate shot at busting the BCS one last time.

Aug. 31 at Washington

When the Broncos step onto the field in Husky Stadium on August 31, 2013, they will be facing a team that is ready for a fight.

The Huskies of Washington nearly beat these same Broncos in the Las Vegas Bowl last season, and there is no doubt they will use that for motivation to attempt to topple Boise State this time around.

The question is, can they do it?

Well, anything is possible. However, Boise State head coach Chris Petersen is a master at getting his team ready to play when he has this much time to prepare. The team did falter last season in the opener against Michigan State, but the 2013 version of the Broncos is far superior to the opening-game team of 2012.

Still, it is going to be a huge challenge.

Boise State must have its offense rolling early against the Huskies. All indications are that it will be, but if the team can't get it together on opening night, Washington could get its revenge.

Prediction

If Boise State struggles on offense, Washington will take this game.

However, that just doesn't seem possible with senior quarterback Joe Southwick playing at a high level with confidence and surrounded by what is arguably the best wide receiver corps in the Mountain West Conference.

Not only that, but the ground game of the Broncos is going to be awesome.

Last season in the opener against Michigan State, the Broncos struggled in every area, but it was the lack of a rushing attack that doomed them.

In total, the Broncos rushed for 37 yards against the Spartans. That was on 24 attempts mind you, and it was impossible for Boise State to overcome.

This season, Boise State has a great stable of running backs. In fact, it might be the best overall group the Broncos have ever fielded—and that's saying a lot.

In the end, it is that ground game that should open up the passing game for Joe Southwick in Seattle. The defense will have to do its part, but with the talent the Broncos have on that side of the ball, it certainly seems feasible.

If the Boise State offense is clicking, they should take home the win. If Washington is able to shut them down, it points to another opening-night loss.

Sept. 7 vs. Tennessee-Martin

This is one of those games that athletic directors get because they really don't have any other option.

Tennessee-Martin is a fine program, but if the Broncos don't take this game by at least 45 points, something is very wrong.

Prediction

Boise State will win this game. It will be one of those games where the starters get to rest in the second half. However, if the Broncos struggle at all, this game will be used against them all season as they attempt to rise in the rankings.

That is the trap with a game like this. If you win it but don't win it like you should have, it could harm you in the quest for a BCS bowl game.

However, it isn't like coach Petersen to let his team overlook anyone.

In the end, look for the Broncos to let up late, but the score should still be in the area of 56-7 in favor of Boise State.

Sept. 20 at Fresno State

Some say Washington, others say BYU, but Fresno State may be the toughest game on the Boise State schedule this season.

Fresno State has a number of key starters coming back from a team that was impressive in 2012.

No starter for the Bulldogs is more important than Derek Carr. In 2012, all he did was throw for 4,104 yards with a completion percentage of 67.3 and a mere seven interceptions. Oh, by the way, he also threw for 37 touchdowns on the year.

Carr will also have his two best wide receivers back.

Isaiah Burse and DaVante Adams finished first and second on the team last season in receiving yards, respectively. Adams had 1,312 yards and Burse an impressive 851. These two are going to be hard to stop in 2013.

Running back will be a bit of a mystery for the Bulldogs, but the passing attack alone has to be scary for the Broncos.

Prediction

This could be a game that Boise State has a hard time winning. The hostile crowd in Fresno will no doubt be hungry for a win.

Head coach Tim DeRuyter has his team playing with serious attitude, and it won't be intimidated by the Broncos.

In the end, if the Boise State is able to move the ball on the ground and keep Derek Carr off of the field, victory should come. However, even if Boise State wins the game in Fresno, these two teams could meet again in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game, should they both make it.

It is hard to pick a score here. Let's just say the team that is able to control the pace of the game and keep the other team's offense off of the field the most wins this game.

Sept. 28 vs. Southern Miss

Southern Miss had a horrible season in 2012. Actually, that might be an understatement.

The Golden Eagles didn't win a single game last year. They played valiantly at times, but nothing seemed to go their way. However, that should change this season.

In 2013, look for Southern Miss to do much better, but probably not against the Broncos.

Prediction

Boise State will be at home for this game, and Boise is a long way from Hattiesburg.

The Golden Eagles will not be able to match up with the bruising rushing attack of the Broncos. Not only that, but if the passing game is as good as it looks like it could be for Boise, the defensive secondary of the Golden Eagles won't be able to do much to slow it down.

In the end it, looks to be a Boise State win. Look for a score of 48-14 in favor of the Broncos.

Oct. 12 at Utah State

The Utah State Aggies are reminiscent of another team in college football.

They are young, scrappy, not afraid to take on any challenge, fast, fly around the field and play with a chip on the shoulder.

Sound familiar?

Well, if you are a Boise State fan, it should.

Utah State looks and plays a lot like the Broncos. Or, at least they did under Gary Andersen. However, since Andersen left for Wisconsin, it is anyone's guess if the Aggies will continue to elevate under new head coach Matt Wells.

Oct. 19 vs. Nevada

Brian Polian replaced Ault, and you can expect the winning tradition to continue in Reno. However, the Wolf Pack probably don't have enough in 2013 to take down the Broncos.

Prediction

Nevada has an excellent dual-threat quarterback in Cody Fajardo. Last season, Fajardo ran for 1,121 yards and threw for 2,786.

However, no matter how good Fajardo is, he can't make up for the fact that Nevada lost running back Stefphon Jefferson, who ran for 1,883 yards last season.

The Wolf Pack also lost over half of their defense, which struggled last season anyway.

Add to that a brutal schedule that sees them open at UCLA and then travel to take on Florida State in Week 3, followed by games against Hawaii, Air Force and at San Diego State before traveling to Boise on Oct. 19.

The struggles on defense combined with the brutal schedule says the game in Boise should be a victory for the Broncos.

Oct. 25 at BYU

Toss a coin and call it in the air. That's how this game looks on paper.

BYU is going to be good again in 2013, and after losing a horrible-looking game to Boise State by a score of 7-6 in 2012, these Cougars are going to be looking to pounce.

The 2013 BYU team should look a lot like the 2012 team, but with a few exceptions.

The defense is going to be downright nasty again. Even though they lost several starters, they return some of the core of the 2012 team that was solid. That list includes one of the best linebackers in the nation in Kyle Van Noy.

That bodes well for a team that struggled at times last season scoring points. The Cougars offense did get better as the season progressed, and that fact, along with the number of returning players, should make BYU more than a one-dimensional defensive juggernaut.

Prediction

This game is in Provo. It is going to be an electric environment, and there is no doubt BYU will be difficult to take down on its home field.

However, the schedule leading up to this game is going to be brutal for the Cougars.

BYU starts the year at Virginia but then comes home to face Texas and Utah. After that, it gets a break with Middle Tennessee but then goes to Utah State the first week of October.

It is then home against Georgia Tech and on the road to face Houston before returning to play Boise State.

After Boise State, the Cougars play Wisconsin, Idaho State, Notre Dame and Nevada. Overall, this has to be one of the most difficult schedules the Cougars have ever played.

If they can stay healthy with all those early tests, they are going to give Boise State all that the Broncos can handle.

The team that makes the fewest mistakes and has the most players healthy is going to win this one.

Nov. 16 vs. Wyoming

Wyoming will be better in 2013. It struggled early in 2012, and it seemed like it took most of the season to get things going.

The Cowboys lost seven of their first eight games but finished winning three of their last four.

In 2013, they will have 14 starters back, seven on each side of the ball, and a very good quarterback with another year of experience.

Quarterback Brett Smith threw for 2,832 yards, 27 touchdowns and only six interceptions last season.

Prediction

The passing defense of Boise State will get tested. However, with the pressure the Broncos should be able to put on Smith, along with the powerful offense of Boise State chewing up clock, Wyoming can only hope to keep it close.